The new machine tool investment in large aircraft landing gear at the Safran Aerospace plant in Gloucester includes a new Kenova Set Line V958 CNC presetter. Delivered to site in May 2016, this machine is equipped with high end features and includes automatic Balluff data chip read/write capability for transfering the tool data and actual measured values to the machine. This brings the total number of KELCH presetters to 12 with 3 in large landing and 9 in medium landing.

The MECOF 5 axis machines, along with WFL Millturns and Niles Millturns need to have accurately set tooling. Errors on these machines can cost tens of thousands of pounds in scrap so right first time is the only option.

 

In 2019, further investment has seen the delivery of the newly designed KELCH Kenova Set Line V646, full CNC tool presetter. To accompany this, Safran Aerospace also purchased the ISG3410WK automatic induction shrink machine for their tool holders. This investment is in support of new DMG machines with HSK100 shrink tooling in the prismatic parts section.

 

In 2024, in support of new machine tool investment, Safran purchase two further Kenova Set Line V648 CNC tool presetters. This order included the Balluff RFID read/write system and the KELCH TeachIn programming module to create bespoke automatic measuring functions.